Is ‘SNL’ on tonight? Will the ‘comedy’ show ever end?

Is SNL on tonight? Fans will have to wait until October, according to NBC. The network has officially announced that Saturday Night Live will be returning for another season in October. Yet, some people are wondering if a 47th season is actually necessary. Despite the series being set to return on Saturday, October 2nd, none of the cast members have been confirmed to return. 

SNL creator & executive producer Lorne Michaels is currently still in talks with the show’s main cast members over who will and won’t return for the 47th season of the comedy series. Were the previous season’s ratings sufficient enough for another season renewal? Check out if SNL will ever come to end.

Who will return for season 47?

Over the last few months, many viewers have discussed the likelihood of fan favorites such as Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, and Cecily Strong returning for season 47. Now, it’s been confirmed that discussions between the cast and showrunners are ongoing.

SNL cast member Pete Davidson roused departure rumors during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter after saying he was uncertain of what was happening with the upcoming season. “Everything is kind of up in the air right now just depending on scheduling. It is my seventh year, and that’s what the contract is usually for,” he said in the interview.

Meanwhile, Variety has reported that SNL creator Lorne Michaels is hoping that main cast members will be able to stay with the weekly skit series until its landmark 50th season.

“Throughout the year, there were times where I felt like a fifth-year senior and I’m just hanging around, dead weight,” Cecily Strong shared with The Hollywood Reporter about her future on SNL. “There’s things I want to do, and I want to be open for these things. If I’m there, great — if I’m not there, great. I just want it to feel like the right thing.”

SNL Season 46 viewer ratings 

Deadline revealed that the ratings for the 46th season of SNL ranked the series number one in entertainment shows among all ad-supported networks in the adults 18-49 demographic. The comedy show averaged a 2.06 million rating in 18-49 and 9 million total viewers overall.

“SNL is one of the most culturally significant shows in television history, and being No. 1 in its 46th season is a testament to how that relevance has continued to grow over the past five decades,” said Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming.

Rovner added, “One of the greatest gifts of this role is being able to watch the SNL team do what they do each week, all while keeping the show as strong and vibrant as ever.”

According to Deadline, SNL generated the number one most YouTube video views (1.6 billion) of any late-night show in all of television. It also obtained the number one most new fans, followers, subscribers (2.7 million) across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube of any late-night show in all of television.

“Congratulations to Lorne Michaels and the entire cast and crew for this milestone. What makes it even more remarkable is that it was accomplished during a pandemic, amid quarantines and strict protocols. It required an outstanding blend of brilliant, creative entertainment and technological talent,” said Katie Hockmeyer, EVP, Late Night Programming, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming.

Will the show ever end?

With a lengthy series run like SNL’s, it’s normal that ratings can rise and fall throughout its run. The show has faced countless criticism throughout its span beginning in 1975. Despite the show’s numerous downfalls, it’s still considered one of the highest-rating and longest-running shows that the country has ever seen.

SNL has become interwoven in live television history & culture that we doubt the show will be ending any time soon. We may even be seeing the series return for a whole new generation of viewers. No matter the year, people will be asking “Who’s hosting SNL tonight?”

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Will you be watching a classic episode of SNL tonight? What SNL cast members do you want to return in the next season? Let us know what you’re watching tonight in the comments below!